BLOOD LEGACIES
Chapter 500: Pending War

Chapter 500: Pending War

DACE

~

"Are you sure about this?" Grayson asked his lone laced with impatience.

I took another drag from my cigarette, releasing the smoke from my lips while tilting my head backward. I let my eyes take in the view of the Devereaux estate. However, they lingered in a particular area.

"Did I stutter?" I said.

"We should take matters into our own hands before it’s too late!"

"I trust the Alpha’s judgment," Singe said.

"Well he’s not my Alpha and he’s probably nuts!"

"Gray," I said, finally turning to the both of them, pressing the bottom of my cigarette on the ashtray. "You’ll be the one nuts if you make a rash decision"

His teeth clenched and it was clear that he wanted to punch something. I on the other hand wanted to rip the entire woods apart but I was eerily calm that even I didn’t believe, I was just a ticking bomb waiting to explode. The further I tried to control my rage the more the chains around me snapped.

Last night, it played in my head like tape. The way the lie ran smoothly from Emma’s lips, but it wasn’t entirely a lie, there was truth in them more than I could ever imagine. She’s shaken to the core and dealing with something bigger than her.

"If we act rashly Luther will know," I said leaning against the table, placing my palm on the desk. "He needs to feel he’s in control"

My mind traveled to last night again but this time away from the mansion. Emma secretly met with Luther, he was manipulating her to bring Hayden to her. From their encounter last night, I knew that wasn’t the first time. I felt bloodlust when he touched her, spoke to her intimately like a fucking pest.

Emma is trying to handle it on her own because her family is at risk, I don’t care what is at risk. What I care about is my baby girl trying to fight a battle she can’t win. She might have something up her sleeves, but dealing with it alone was the first mistake. Luther knew this and he’s using it to his advantage. Sooner or later she would succumb and give Luther what he wanted. I’ll put an end to him before that happens.

"I have my men finding out how many there are," I said.

"And how many?" Grayson asked. I told him about it last night too down at the Ring, not because he’s Emma’s brother but because I knew with him I could work out a plan. Currently, Emma is trying to push everyone away for the sake of safety, if I get too close Luther will act rash knowing I would figure it out but for Grayson, he might just see it as a simple exchange for siblings. Not much of a threat.

That’s the thing about dealing with people—I don’t underestimate them so easily.

"Enough for war" Singe voiced and Grayson went still, his eyes widening in shock.

I hated myself for not realizing it sooner—Luther took advantage of my vulnerability to bring an army here. A witch is helping him because there is no way he would pass the barrier without anyone noticing. There’s a witch and possibly a mole in my fucking house.

"War," Grayson said gulping, it was an impossible thing to happen. I’d been dragging a war for years now so I knew just how easily one can be created by a snap of a finger. "He can’t do that" he sounded almost in disbelief.

"You might have spent years with Luther but you don’t know him that much, he’s my opposite, and yet we’re so alike. I pushed his people to a corner for years, he saw an opportunity and took it. Why else did he think he was willing to let Emma get kidnapped?"

His eyes snapped to mine, and rage bloomed in their green depth. "Willing?"

"Now that I think about it? Powerful or not it was too easy" I leaned away from the table folding my arms against my chest. "My guess is it was all a plan, he used my obsession with Emma, down to the last minute," I said with clenched teeth. "I danced to his tone from the start, we all did"

"Are you trying to tell me that the person who leaked the coordinates of Emma’s location in Washington was him?" He shook his head. "I hate to say this but Luther strangely cares for Emma, the last thing he would do is that"

"Then fucking explain this!" I snapped, furious at his words. "The bastard has been using both of you from the start, all leading to one goal. Me."

"Then fix this!" he barked. "You started this bloodshed, end it!"

Yes, I did. I was always obsessed with dealing with all enemies down to the last bit. I’ll put an end to it myself. "I’ll will"

"Good"

~

I stopped in front of the door, but before I could knock, it swung open as if she had been expecting me.

Done talking strategy?" Emilia asked, her tone stern.

A smirk found my lips. "You catch on fast, sister," I commented.

She rolled her eyes. "You asked Grayson to see you. I know enough" She stepped aside, and I entered the room.

"Have you figured out why Luther wants the Banshee?" she asked curious about the situation.

I wish I knew too; it would have made things easier to understand what Luther was really planning. All I know, given the number of vampires around, is that he planned to attack soon.

"Not yet," I said walking to the table where I spotted a picture. "I don’t think I’ll get the chance to" I grabbed the picture, it was one of my mom and Emilia, she was 6 years old wrapped in my mom’s embrace.

"What do you mean?"

I dropped the picture back and faced her. "Because I would have taken his head by then"

"No" she shook her head. Realization gripping her. "Dace!"

"Facing the enemy head-on has always been my style, best get rid of the pests in our town before they get too close"

"Why do you always do this?!" she screamed at me. "You did the same thing when you faced the rogues alone!"

"I’m not going alone," I clarified.

"But it is war!" she sighed. "What about Emma?"

I paused, saying nothing, earning a chuckle from Emilia. "You’re an asshole , you know that?"

"Emilia"

She didn’t look at me.

"Alexandra!"

She forced her gaze on me.

"Can I ask something of you?"

"If you tell me to take care of her, I’m going to fucking murder you," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"No sister," I mused. "Because I’m not planning on dying yet, this is not a sacrifice but extinction"

"Now you’re speaking my language. Tell me, what do you want, brother?"

~

I jammed the door shut and stepped away from my car. I quickly removed my shades when I spotted my Audi A8 parked in a corner. A smile touched my lips—it’s a miracle there weren’t any scratches on it, given what I knew of her driving skills.

"Devereaux"

I turned to Owen as he walked up to me. "You called?"

"Yes, I did" I nudged my head to the car. "Where is my wife?"

He opened his mouth to speak but he quickly shut them. "In a library" he gulped.

I sighed. "You know I won’t leave here until I see her right?"

"I know, which makes it difficult for me. I’m not exactly willing to tell you exactly where she is..."

So she’s in a place he can’t tell me about?

"Let’s talk then" I quickly changed the topic.

"Talk?" he asked, staring at me like I had two heads.

"What were you expecting? That I came here to take your head"

"What else could there be?"

I chuckled. "Trust me I’m tempted to but want I what right now is completely different, I wouldn’t have come to you if I had no other choice"

"I’m curious Devereaux why you came all this way just to see me"

"Let’s find out shall we?"

~

Owen ran a hand through his hair, his eyes a mix of chaotic distress and dread. "S-So you’re saying...’ he began with a trembling voice. "There’s an army of Vampires here?"

"Yes," I said.

"How the fuck did they get through the barrier?"

"That’s where you come in, Sherman" I leaned away from the chair and rested my elbows on my knees. "Who are the people in charge of the spell keeping the barrier intact?"

"Why? Wait..." he blinked. "You think there’s an insider?"

"I don’t think... I know. Singe is currently scanning everyone in my house, you need to do the same too"

Owen gulped, growing more unsettled than ever. The issue now was that he didn’t believe me. "It’s not possible, Dace"

"Why? Do you think the witch clan is so self-righteous? Luther must have gotten to anyone here, he’s that good"

"No no, you don’t understand"

"Then make me understand," I growled.

"B-B-Because Vanessa is the one in charge of the spell"